The Delaware ledger. (Newark, Del.) 1879-19??, 1887-02-26
Burdette Left Him in the Cold d.

tie struck 21. It was bitter, biting,
singing cold, and there was no am
bulance at the station, but there was
good hotel there. l went in and
registered, and a man of command
ing presence, tailor-built clothes and
brown beard of most refined cul-
ture Immediately followed me. l
stood little in awe of this majestic
being-about as little as l usually
Standard when in a deep, bass,
commanding voice he ordered
room, I had a great mind-some-
thing that I always carry with me
when l travel-to go out and get
him one.
The gentlemanly and urbane
night clerk, who also seemed to be
deeply impressed-as is the habit of
the night clerk-with the gentle
mans responsible-to-any-amount
toot on sawmbel, said he was sorry,
but he had but one vacant room and
it contained but one bed.
"Still," he said, as became a man
who was bound to stand for his
house if it hadn't a bed in it, 'it was
a very wide bed, very wide and
quite long. Two gentlemen could
sleep in it quite comfortably, and if
-" But the commanding being at
my side said that was quite altogeth-
er out of the question entirely.
Quite. He was sorry for the-here
he looked at me, hesitated, but
finally said--gentleman, but he
couldn't share His room with him.
He was sorry for the-gentleman,
and hoped he might find comfort
able lodgings, but He couldn't per-
init him to occupy even portion Of
His bed.
Then the clerk begged pardon,
and was sorry and all that, but this
other gentleman had registered first
and it was for him to say what dis
position should bemade of this lone
ly room and solitary bed, hasten
ed to assure the majestic being that
it was all right; he was welcome to
two-thirds of the room, all the look
ing-glass and one-half of the bed.
"No," he said very abruptly, 81
will sit here by the stove and sleep
in a chair. I thank you, sir, but I
would not sleep with my own broth
er. l prefer room to myself"
l meekly told him that ! didn't
know what kind of man his broth
er was, but no doubt he did, and,
therefore, l must conclude that he
wasn't a fit man to sleep with. But
his brother was out of the question,
ifhe wanted and part of my couch
he might have it and welcome, and
l would agree not to think Of his
brother. "No, sir" said he, 81 will
{ sleep in no mans bed" / said l
wouldn't either, if l wasn't sleepy,
but when l was sleepy l didn't care;
I'd sleep with the King of England
or the President and wouldn't care
cent who knew it.
: Well, | went to bed. l curled up
under the warm, soft blankets and
, heard the wind shrek and wall and
whistle and yell-how like all crea-
5 ton the wind can blow in Erie-and
as the night grew colder and colder
5 every minute l fell asleep and
dreamed that heaven was Just forty
eight miles West of Dunkirk.
About 2.30 or 8 o'clock there came
laundering rap at the door, and with
/ a vague, half-waking impression in
my dream that somebody from the
other place was trying to get in
said:
t Wv hat Isl z"
; "It is l." answered a splendid
' voice, which / recognized at once.
81 am the gentleman who came on
E the train with you"
"Yes," / said; "and what is the
+ matter?"
E The splen did voice was a trifie
7 humble as it replied.
81 have changed my mind about
sleeping with another man."
so have Il" l howled, so iovously
a that the very winds laughed in
/. merry echo; $50 have l! wouldn't
/ get out of this warm bed to omen
f that door for my own Lrotlrr!'
: l will close this story here. If I
:, should write the language that went
$ down that dim, cold hall outside nv
o door you wouldn't print it. And
r when next morning l went skinping
n down stairs as fresh as Il rose, and
fl saw that majestic being knotted uu
e in Il hard arm chair hacking 100
; years old, l said;
5 Better is poor and wise child
r than an old and foolish king who
II knoweth not how to he ndmonished
y For out Of ,r;s,,, ,